How Was the Catholic Church Founded?

The Roman Catholic Church traces its origins back to Jesus Christ and his disciples in the 1st century ce. According to Roman Catholic tradition, Jesus appointed his apostle Peter as the leader of the church. This tradition rests partly on Jesus’ words, “And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek: Petros], and on this rock [Greek: petra] I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18), and partly on Christ’s bestowing the “keys of the Kingdom” on Peter (Matthew 16:19 and 18:18).

Tradition also states that Peter lived in Rome in the middle of the 1st century ce and that he established the Christian church there, serving as the first bishop of Rome. Eventually, the title of pope (Latin papa, from Greek pappas, “father”) was conferred on the bishop of Rome (and for a time, on any bishop) as a term of respect. Catholics therefore regard St. Peter as the first pope and all popes after him as his successor.

Over the centuries the Roman Catholic Church developed a sophisticated theology and organizational structure. The church was influenced by various historical and cultural factors, including the integration of Greek philosophy and the establishment of doctrine and dogma through ecumenical councils and papal documents such as encyclicals. Missionaries helped establish Catholicism in all corners of the globe. The church’s hierarchical structure, with the pope at its head, became a defining characteristic of Catholicism.